EPILOGUE

A shriek filled his eardrum and Sandor barely held back a curse. He rubbed his ear wondering how something so tiny could release such an earsplitting noise.

The squirming bundle in his arm shrieked again, grabbing at his hair to emphasize his point as he pointed towards the humongous Christmas tree nearby, just in case the message was not clear the first time.

Sandor chuckled, "Okay, buddy," he complied, carrying the tiny tot towards the tree.

The little one instantly ceased his whining, pudgy hands clapping excitedly as the enormous Christmas tree drew nearer. It was covered in hundreds of dazzling lights and breathtaking ornaments that caught his attention. Snowflakes were sprinkled throughout its evergreen leaves, adding to the spectacular sight.

The baby laughed merrily as he held out his arms, reaching for the tree. It was the day before Christmas eve and Sandor had taken his sister and nephew on a trip to New York City to witness the magic of Christmas in New York. From Times Square to, Rockefeller Center, to Radio City, the big apple had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Enchanting and dazzling, lighting his nephew's eyes up with wonder.

His sister appeared by his side, her eyes sparkling almost as bright as her son's. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she breathed in awe. The three of them stared up at the tree, as bewitched as the other onlookers who snapped away capturing pictures of the tree, or stood in contentment with their loved ones. "We're going to have to return tomorrow to ice skate."

"With the baby?" Sandor laughed.

"I'll carry him," his sister insisted.

Sandor gave her a look as he held his nephew tighter. "We'll both fall down and take him down with us."

"I was jesting, Sandor. If only we could bring his stroller onto the ice. That would be fun, wouldn't it little buddy?" she lightly tickled the tot's chin, causing him to squeal with laughter.

It was a peaceful night when they returned to the hotel. The baby was snoozing away, worn down from the excitement of the day, and with a gentle kiss to his cheek his sister had set off to bed, her son nestled securely in her arms. "I think I will stay in tomorrow," she sleepily informed him between yawns before the bedroom door shut behind her.

Sandor sometimes wondered how he managed to contain the love that he felt for the two inside of him. It was an overwhelming love. An overpowering one that he often felt that he could burst from. Close to dropping from sleep himself, he decided to dedicate a few minutes to quickly looking through his email. There were emails from customers, vendors that he received some of his supplies from, and… the little bird. A smile broke across his tired face.

They still kept in touch writing each other every few weeks now that the little bird was in college and busy with her studies. But it was the holidays and with her free time the emails arrived more frequently. He quickly read her message, one line standing out to him most:

Take me ice skating tomorrow.

Sandor read the line again as a feeling he couldn't identify began to course through his body. Anxiety, panic, nerves. Most likely. But there was also anticipation. And excitement mixed with wariness.

Just yesterday he had replied to an email she sent, and in his reply he had informed her of his arrival in New York City with his family. He didn't know why he had waited so long to tell her when they'd been in the same city for a few days already. Two years had passed since he last saw her face-to-face and although they had remained close friends through email, he wasn't sure how she would react to seeing him again.

It turned out that she was excited. She squealed and hugged him tightly. "Sandor," she greeted when they separated. She beamed up at him.

Sandor was speechless for a while as the radiance of the beautiful young lady washed over him. His little bird. But she wasn't so little anymore.

"You've grown," was the only thing he could get out.

She didn't seem to mind. She just rolled her eyes and giggled. "Of course," she said.

"How's your family?" That was better.

"Arya and Bran are visiting next week." Even though she wasn't a child anymore, she bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet as she shared the information.

Her joy was infectious, lifting up the corners of his mouth into a smile that he didn't want to hold back.

"Uncle Benjen is great as always and… Jon has a girlfriend," she revealed, her nose slightly wrinkled. "Her name's Ygritte."

Sandor grunted in reply but she seemed satisfied with the response as she continued on, suddenly fidgeting.

"I realized a while ago that when I turned eighteen, I wouldn't mind kissing you again," the little bird said, her face blushing furiously. "And well… I'm eighteen." She stared up at him her eyes luminous and shy. She was worrying her bottom lip in an adorable matter and it tugged at his heart.

She was so young and it frightened him. He could still remember everything that she had gone through two years ago as if the events had occurred yesterday. Sandor wanted to do the right thing. He wanted to hug her and let her know how much he appreciated her before sending her on her way to find a boy closer to her age. But she looked at him so sweetly, so hopefully, saying that she wanted him to kiss her.

"Are you sure, little bird?" he asked, unwilling to take advantage of her.

She nodded and still Sandor hesitated.

"It's just one kiss, Sandor. Nothing has to result from it. I promise." Her voice was a sweet whisper, saying everything that his heart craved.

She leaned in first, taking control of the experience as she rose up on tiptoe and her arms wrapped around his neck, her lips pressed against his gingerly and sweet. She seemed hesitant at first before becoming more confident and sinking into the kiss.

The kiss was innocent and gentle and womanly and seductive all at the same time. As she moved her lips against his, he realized that his little bird had developed into a young woman. Gently he broke the kiss, stroking her hair back as his eyes roamed over her flushed cheeks and gently swollen rosebud lips. Her crystalline eyes threatened to swallow him whole. Sandor gulped, but said the words that needed to be said.

"It won't ever happen, little bird," his tone was tender as he stared into her eyes. It was best to let her know and not lead her along about anything ever happening between them.

She smiled up at him still appearing dazed, before her head cleared and she straightened herself. "I know. But thank you, Sandor. I will treasure it."

As he listened to her words, he realized he had held himself back from settling with another lady, wondering if when the little bird was of age if there would be a possibility of something more than friendship blossoming. But now he knew that as deep as she had burrowed herself into his heart, he couldn't do it. He would never rob her of finding a boy her age that could provide her a bright happy future, free from any shared past trauma.

Their kiss had been freeing in a way. It was a letting go. Accepting that there would never be a future between them and giving himself permission to move on.

"Merry Christmas eve, Sandor," she said softly. "It's a shame that we weren't under a mistletoe."

Sandor allowed himself to memorize her glowing features for a while, knowing that he would never forget how she looked in this moment, before he gently took her arm. "Let's attempt some ice skating, shall we?" he asked her.

She smiled prettily at him. "We shall."

The little bird's laughter filled his ears as she held on to him while they slowly made their way around the ice rink. She was a better skater than him but was still far from a pro.

"Sandor, don't let me fall!" she squealed as her legs suddenly wobbled.

"Never," he promised.